Just got off the phone with new Saints safety Pierson Prioleau, a guy I actually covered in San Francisco when we were both new to the NFL in 1999 and 2000.

He's bounced around since then - to Buffalo, Washington, Jacksonville and New Orleans, following Coach Gregg Williams every step of the way. But clearly, he's found his place in the league as a versatile defensive backup and special teams standout.

"I don't know if it's him liking me or me liking him more," Prioleau said of Williams.

"After I was released in San Francisco and went to Buffalo (in 2001), I felt like I had a new lease on the game. It gave me a new motivation," said Prioleau, who had his best NFL season as a full-time starter with the Bills in 2002. "When Gregg gave me that second chance, I fell in love with his style of game, the way we played the game and the way he coached the game. I became a true professional and he developed that trust in me, I guess. It's a trust relationship."

Prioleau (5-foot-11, 188 pounds) said he'd like to be a full-time player like anyone else. But he said one of the things he likes about Williams' defense is that he uses several different players in several different packages. Prioleau said he can play safety, play inside as a nickel or dime back and even fill in on the edge at cornerback if necessary.

He's made his biggest impact on special teams. He led the Jaguars with 22 special teams tackles last year, while playing in all 16 games and making one start on defense.

"I learned to play special teams in college, and I did it in San Francisco, probably not as well as I could have," Prioleau said. "But once I got to Buffalo, I found my old love for the teams. And I always promised myself no matter how many downs I played on defense, I'd always play teams. I'd say that's a big part of why I'm still around today."

Prioleau said he likes Williams' "attacking" style on defense and said the coach knows how to bring the best out of players, knows how to treat defensive guys, and knows how to play defense.

"For a guy who played quarterback in college, and he played at a small college (Northeast Missouri State), I always tease him about that, he knows how to put schemes together and he knows how to put fear into offenses." Prioleau said. "Unfortunately that didn't happen last year in Jacksonville. But this will probably be a good move for him too.

"I'm looking forward to being here. The Saints, they have a lot of pieces in the puzzle already in place."